Friday, 2 August 2013

Ahava Review | Light sunscreen + Radiance + Moisturizing Primer

Ahava Time to Hydrate Essential Moisturizing Lotion* appeared in my goodie bag as the key full size item to try. It is a new release and being a sunscreen hoarder slash skin care junkie, I'm excited.

Price and Packaging
$420 for 50 ml. This is new to the Time to Hydrate line - HK website link!
It comes in a sleek cylinder bottle, rubber lid and a great dispensing pump. Very easy to handle daily, and travel-friendly. Considering its viscosity, this is the ideal container, as opposed to a squeeze tube, which will probably allow too much to run out.

1, one pump 2, spread 3, absorbed

Scent and Texture

Light fruity fresh fragrance, with a hint of melon (don't quote my nose on that). Pleasant and one that I grow fonder the more I use this.
Not thick in consistency, easy to spread around, absorbs quickly, this lotion is light-weight and feels comfortable on most skin. (Probably not for extremely oily or the very dry?) It doesn't leave any tackiness on the skin, but a thin, almost film-like protection layer - which brings me onto the 'primer' use.

How I Use It/ How It Works
As it has SPF, I have never tried this as a night moisturiser. I have two regular uses for this.
First, I use it as the only moisturiser of the day. On days where I do not bother to wear any make up, i.e. weekends or ultra confident ( = lazy) mornings. This is the only thing I put on my skin. This way, my skin is hydrated and feel 'protected'. I confess though, due to the adverse humidity ( = high) in this city currently, I sometimes look pretty oily around afternoon, just after lunch. This moisturizing lotion doesn't control oil-secretion - not a warning, just a sharing.
The other way I use it, which I prefer, is to use this under make up as a 'primer' almost. I am an avid believer of PA factor (against UVA, which penetrates deeper into skin and causes wrinkles/pigmentations), therefore this Ahava SPF15 alone doesn't give enough security. On most days, I will put this as a moisturiser/base that adds radiance, allow it to set, then put on my foundation or bb cream (which usually has PA factor). Then I continue with my make up. The glow this Ahava lotion gives still shows through after layers are added above it. Although it doesn't particularly mattify or control oil, it doesn't melt my make up off through-out the day. In fact, I find it holds things together pretty well.

make up on 26 July - the day I took the 'after' image - will edit and post FOTD asap... :P

Review
As you can probably (not) see from my before/after image above, this doesn't leave my skin greasy or with a white case (common sunscreen crime?). My face looks more hydrated and the lotion added a soft glow to my skin. Secret to share: it is also available on the American Ulta website, around US $40 only!
In short, this is a great product which I find easily incorporated into my routine.
I'm giving it a Joyeux Jacq stamp and will be more than pleased to continue using this up.